Am.  Jour.  Pharm. "( 
Feb.,  1882.  J 
Practical  Notes. 
67 
especially  when  the  pills  are  wanted  in  a  very  short  time.    It  is  most 
convenient  to  begin  marking  the  numbers  from  left  to  right.  This  can 
be  readily  done  by  using  a  fine  pen  and  indelible  ink,  which  will  remain 
permanent  and  stand  any  amount  of  washing.    A  good  plan  is  to  mark 
each  groove  at  the  top,  except  every  fifth  one,  which  is  best  to  have  the 
number  placed  at  the  bottom,  in  order  to  make  the  numeration  more 
easily  read.     This  will  be  found  especially  desirable  for  the  pill 
machines  that  cut  small  pills,  such  as  one  grain,  so  that  the  fifth, 
tenth,  fifteenth,  twentieth,  and  twenty-fifth  grooves  can  be  distinguished 
at  a  glance.    The  ink  used  should  be  made  with  nitrate  of  silver. 
Antiseptic  Cologne. — 
R    Cologne,  .  .  .  .  .  fl.  oz.  8 
Chloral  hydrate,  .  .  .  dr.  2 
Quinine  (alkaloid),  .  .  .  gr.  10 
Carbolic  acid  (pure),    .  .  .  gr.  30 
Oil  of  lavender,     ....  drops  20 
Having  frequently  noticed  that  when  carbolic  acid  is  mixed  with 
chloral,  the  odor  of  the  former  is  either  covered  or  removed,  I  pre- 
pared the  cologne  as  above,  and  found  that  it  was  by  no  means  dis- 
agreeable. It  can  be  used  in  the  form  of  spray,  or  on  the  handker- 
chief, and,  as  it  contains  three  well-known  antiseptics,  it  may  possess 
some  valuable  properties.  It  was  made  up,  however,  several  years 
ago,  to  supply  a  popular  demand  for  such  an  article,  and  gave  satisfac- 
faction,  at  least  to  some  who  used  it ;  but  whether  from  increasing 
the  confidence  of  those  using  it,  in  the  belief  of  its  prophylactic  effects, 
or  from  its  really  possessing  such,  I  am  not  able  to  state,  but  must 
leave  it  for  others  to  determine. 
Solution  of  Citrate  of  Magnesium — An  improvement  can  be  made 
in  making  this  solution  by  using  calcined  magnesia  instead  of  the  car- 
bonate. This  is  due  to  the  fact  that  when  light  calcined  magnesia  is 
employed,  the  citrate  is  free  from  a  peculiar  flavor  that  is  scarcely 
capable  of  description,  except  by  the  term  earthy.  In  the  following 
receipt  the  same  amount  of  citric  acid  is  employed  as  called  for  by  the 
formula  given  in  the  U.  S.  Pharmacopoeia,  and  yet  if  any  druggist 
will  take  the  trouble  to  make  it  by  this  receipt,  he  will  find  a  marked 
difference  in  the  taste  of  the  solution.  He  will  also  find  that  a  l)eau- 
tifully  clear  preparation  is  obtained. 
R    Light  calcined  magnesia,  .  .    dr.  7,  gr.  55 
Citric  acid,  .  .  ,         troy  oz.  4,  dr.  1,  gr.  45 
Bicarbonate  of  sodium,  .  .    dr.  1,  gr.  40 
White  sugar,        .  .  .         troy  oz.  (> 
Oil  of  lemon,  .  .  .  drops;} 
Bi<;arbonate  of  potassium,  .         q  s. 
Water  sufficient  to  make  50  fluidounces. 
